Page 130 of The Vampire's Bride

“I know you’re worried for him.” Reyla cups my face with weathered hands, her warm brown eyes full of sadness. “We are too. But it’s what he would want, Lady Juliet. He would want you somewhere safe.”

“We cannot just run.” I implore them to listen. “What if Valaric and the others are imprisoned? I cannot just leave my husband.”

“If he was their prisoner, they would have sent word already with one of their human messengers or one of their day guardians,” Reyla says. “They would have sent terms for conditions of release.”

“My mother is right,” Lysander agrees. “We’ve heard nothing.”

My stomach drops as the unthinkable fills my mind. “You think they are dead.” My voice quavers. “Don’t you?”

Lysander clenches his jaw as if what he wants to say is too painful, before he finally offers, “I want to believe they’re alive, but most Vampires do not take prisoners.”

Without warning, his head snaps toward the door, his red eyes narrowing. “Someone is approaching,” he says, his voice a low rumble of unease. “Stay here.”

My heart hammers as I nod. Reyla clasps her hands together, her face etched with concern as her son rushes from the room with inhuman speed.

Minutes stretch like an eternity before he finally returns, his expression grim. “It’s Prince Raine’s blood wife and two of hisday guardians. She is asking to speak with you. She claims to have a message from the prince.”

His gaze shifts to the door. “The wards will not allow them to enter the manor unless we invite them. I suggest you both leave through the tunnels. If the prince sent any magic wielders, it will take them at least an hour to break through the barrier.” He pauses. “You should go now. I fear this could be a trap, my Lady.”

“If it was, why would she come alone?” I ask. “The prince is very protective of her. He would not put her in danger.”

Reyla turns to me. “Are you certain of this?”

“Yes.” I look at her and Lysander. “Let her in. Bring her to the study. We need to find out why she is here. If the prince is holding them captive, maybe he sent her to deliver terms for their release.”

With a reluctant nod, Reyla leaves to fetch Alayna.

When they return, Alayna greets me with a warm smile. “It is good to see you again.”

“You as well,” I reply, trying to hide my nerves. “To what do we owe this visit?”

Instead of answering, she turns to Lysander and frowns. “The sun is already out. You are up rather late, are you not?”

Lysander stiffens, but he says nothing.

Alayna’s expression falters a bit and she turns to me. “I was hoping to speak with you alone, if I may?”

Lysander’s gaze flicks to me, and I nod. He leaves, closing the doors behind him.

Awkward silence settles between us. I want so much to ask her about my husband and the others, but something makes me hesitate. Drawing in a deep breath, I steady myself and fall back on all my years of proper etiquette ingrained in me by my mother and offer Alayna a seat. “Would you like some tea?”

“Thank you.” A faint smile hovers on her lips. “But I won’t be long.” She scans the rooms and then leans in and whispers. “Do you trust your servants?”

“With my life,” I reply in an equally low voice. I move a bit closer. “Do you trust your day guardians?”

She nods. “The guards assigned to me are carefully picked. Only those who Prince Raine trusts completely are selected.”

“Does he worry someone might try to harm you?”

A flicker of something unreadable passes over her face. “As I mentioned before, the royal court can be full of danger.” She reaches into her cloak and pulls out a parchment, sealed with the royal crest. “The prince sent this for you.”

My heart hammers as I take it from her, worried it’s some sort of terrible decree—an announcement of imprisonment or scheduled execution of Valaric and the others. The best I can hope is that it may be a note of ransom… some sort of bargaining for their safe return.

My fingers tremble as I break the seal and unfold the thick paper. With shaking breath, I scan the document, my brow furrowing as I read the proclamation.

It’s an official recognition of my marriage to Valaric, endorsed by the crown. Confused, I glance up at Alayna. “Why did the prince send this?”

Alayna frowns. “Valaric did not tell you?”

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